Recloseable Bag Clasp With Redundant And Confirmatory Engagements

ABSTRACT

A clasp for securely and redundantly closing and sealing a bag comprises an elongate spine and opposed jaws extending monolithically from the spine transverse to the spine. The jaws each include inwardly-directed upper and lower ribs, and the jaws are resiliently biased toward each other so that the lower ribs of each jaw are biased toward each other and the upper ribs of each jaw are biased toward each other as well. When a bag is applied to the clasp, the clasp confirms the seal, forms a secondary seal, and operates as a handle to carry the bag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to bags, and more particularlyto closure devices for bags with zipper seal closures.

Background of the Invention

There are a huge variety of bags for carrying items. Sealed plasticwraps, coin pouches, clutch purses, soft-sided luggage, duffel bags,medical IV infusion bags—the list is nearly endless. However, there is aclass of bags that nearly all consumers encounter and use almost everyday: zip-top bags.

Zip-top bags have a re-sealable closure such as a single or doubleplastic zipper seal. There are a huge number of branded (Ziploc® orGlad® bags) and generic bags. Almost all, though, are designed to beclosed, opened, closed, and opened over and over.

Such zip-top bags provide a modicum of fluid and air impermeability. Thebags themselves are usually made from a thin, flexible plastic which hasfairly good air impermeability and are usually water tight. However, allzip-top bags can be opened at the zipper seal, and so the air- andfluid-impermeability is always jeopardized by the zipper seal.

While zipper seals provide decent air and fluid impermeability, they arenot perfect and are thus not reliable. Water and air will eventuallypass through the opposed mating portions of the zipper seal, and willaffect the objects carried within the bag.

Efforts have been made to increase the impermeability of zipper seals.For instance, some manufacturers have incorporated adhesives: some bagscan be closed and then secured with an adhesive above the zipper seal.Other bags include a flap with an adhesive: the flap can be folded overthe closed zipper seal and adhered to the bag. Solutions such as thesedo improve impermeability, but generally do so at the cost of reuse.Such bags can be difficult, if possible at all, to reuse, if theadhesive is strong or if the bag is damaged when removing the adhesive.Further, such bags can generally only be reused once or perhaps twicemore.

Some bags incorporate heat seals. After the zipper seal is closed, aheat gun or other heating element melts the plastic sidewalls of the bagto fuse them together. This can be an effective means of forming a fluidand gas-impervious seal, but of course, bags such as these most beripped to be re-opened, and so they are not reusable. An improved way tocyclically form a fluid and gas impervious seal on a zip-top bag isneeded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A clasp for securely and redundantly closing and sealing a bag comprisesan elongate spine and opposed jaws extending monolithically from thespine transverse to the spine. The jaws each include inwardly-directedupper and lower ribs, and the jaws are resiliently biased toward eachother so that the lower ribs of each jaw are biased toward each otherand the upper ribs of each jaw are biased toward each other as well.When a bag is applied to the clasp, the clasp confirms the seal, forms asecondary seal, and operates as a handle to carry the bag.

The above provides the reader with a very brief summary of someembodiments discussed below. Simplifications and omissions are made, andthe summary is not intended to limit or define in any way the scope ofthe invention or key aspects thereof. Rather, this brief summary merelyintroduces the reader to some aspects of the invention in preparationfor the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clasp applied to a bag;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clasp of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are section views taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1showing the clasp of FIG. 1, both in isolation and applied to a bag;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of a clasp, and are sectionviews taken along a line similar to the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing thealternate embodiment of the clasp both in isolation and applied to abag; and

FIG. 7 is a section view similar to the FIG. 4, showing an alternatearrangement of the clasp of FIG. 1 on the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now is made to the drawings, in which the same referencecharacters are used throughout the different figures to designate thesame elements. FIG. 1 illustrates a clasp 10 holding, gripping, andsealing a bag 11. The bag 11 is a conventional zip-top bag having are-sealable closure, such as marketed under the trademarks Ziploc® orGlad®. The clasp 10 uniquely slides onto the closure of the bag 11 toconfirm that the closure is sealed, create an additional seal under theclosure, and support the weight of the bag 11 along the entire width ofthe bag 11.

FIG. 2 illustrates the clasp 10 in isolation in a perspective view. Theclasp 10 is formed from a single, monolithic body 12 constructed of amaterial or combination of materials having characteristics of strength,rigidity, resiliency, shape memory, and durability, such as plastic. Thebody 12 of the clasp 10 is elongate along a long axis A, extendingbetween opposed open ends 13 and 14. The body 12 has a top 15 and anopposed bottom 16.

At the top 15 of the body 12, the clasp 10 has a spine 20 extendingcontinuously between the ends 13 and 14. The spine 20 has a depthextending between opposed side edges 21 and 22. The side edges 21 and 22are straight, parallel, and co-planar with each other, such that spine20 is planar, flat, and has a constant width between the ends 13 and 14.The spine 20 additionally has a thickness between an outer surface 23and an inner surface 24 which is also constant between the ends 13 and14. The outer surface 23 is directed upwardly and the inner surface 24is directed downwardly toward the bottom 16 of the body 12.

From the spine 20, two opposed jaws extend downwardly entirely from thetop 15 to the bottom 16. A first jaw 30 extends downward from the sideedge 21, and a second jaw 31 extends downward from the side edge 22. Thefirst and second jaws 30 and 31 are each continuous between the ends 13and 14, and as such are coextensive to the spine 20. With the spine 20,they cooperate to define an elongate interior 25 of the clasp 10 whichruns the entire length of the clasp 10.

The first and second jaws 30 are identical but oppositely formed on thespine 20. As such, description of the first jaw 30 will be providedherein with the understanding that such description applies equally tothe second jaw 31. For consistency, and because the second jaw 31 hasstructural elements and features identical to the first jaw 30, thereference characters used to identify those structural elements andfeatures will also be used for those of the second jaw 31, but will bemarked with a prime (“′”) symbol to distinguish them from those of thefirst jaw 30. The first jaw 30 has a proximal end 32, located proximateto the side edge 21, and extends from the proximal end 32 to a distalend 33.

At the distal end 33, the first jaw 30 has a lower outside edge 34. Theside edge 21 and the lower outside edge 34 are straight and parallel toeach other, and are co-planar with each other. As such, between theopposed side and lower outside edges 21 and 34, and between the opposedopen ends 13 and 14, is an outer face 35 of the first jaw 35. The outerface 35 is planar, flat, and has a height between the side and loweroutside edges 34 and 35 which is constant between the ends 13 and 14.The first jaw 30 has a thickness between the outer face 35 and anopposed inner face 36. The thickness of the first jaw 30 varies, but isconstant in certain sections, as will be explained.

Turning to FIG. 3, a section view of the clasp 10 is shown taken alongthe line 3-3 in FIG. 2. At the distal end 33, the first jaw 30terminates in a lower face 40, which is elongate, shallow, and parallelto the outer surface 23 of the spine 30. The lower face 40 extends fromthe lower outside edge 34 to a lower edge 41 and is “directed away” fromthe spine 20, which means a directional arrow extending normal from itssurface outward is directed away from the spine 20.

The first jaw 30 includes inwardly-directed first and second, or upperand lower, ribs 42 and 43, each of which projects generally laterallyinwardly from the first jaw 30 into the interior 25 of the clasp 10. Thelower rib 43 defines, in cooperation with the distal end 33 of the firstjaw 30, the lower face 40 and the lower edge 41. The lower rib 43additionally includes an inner, or convergent, face 44 (hereinafter“convergent face 44”) and an upper face 45. Both of the convergent andupper faces 44 and 45 are elongate and extend continuously between theends 13 and 14. The convergent and upper faces 44 and 45, convergetoward each other and back toward the spine 20, meeting at and definingan acute corner 46 which extends along the full length of the clasp 10and the lower rib 43, and which projects sharply into the interior 25.The upper face 53 is also aligned into the hold 62 from a lower innersurface 47, which means a directional arrow laying on the upper face 53is aligned or directed into the hold 62.

Opposite the outer face 35, between the upper and lower ribs 42 and 43,is the short, flat, and vertical lower inner surface 47, which is aninner surface of the jaw 30 like the inner surface 36, but is definedbetween the upper and lower ribs 42 and 43. The lower inner surface 47is perpendicular with the lower face 40 and the outer surface 23 of thespine 20, and forms an inward, acute angle with the upper face 45 of thelower rib 43.

The upper rib 42 projects laterally inward from the first jaw 30 betweenthe inner surface 36 and the lower inner surface 47. The upper rib 42 isrectangular prismatic and oriented parallel to the spine 20, extendingentirely from end 13 to end 14 along the length of the clasp 10 and thefirst jaw 30.

The upper rib 42 includes a lower face 50 which defines, together withthe lower inner surface 47, an inside square corner. The lower face 50is parallel to the lower face 40 of the lower rib 43 and directed awayfrom the spine 20. Normal to the lower face 50, the inward face 52 turnsupwardly and is directed inwardly. The lower and inner faces 50 and 52meet at and define a lower edge 51 which runs the entire length of theupper rib 42 between the ends 13 and 14. Opposite the lower face 50 isthe upper face 53, directed upward toward the spine 20; the upper face53 forms a right corner with the inward face 52 at an upper edge 54 andextends from that upper edge 54 to the inner surface 36 of the first jaw30.

As described above, the first and second jaws 30 and 31 are identical inevery way, but are reversed in opposite orientations with respect toeach other. The second jaw 31 includes all of the structural elementsand features of the first jaw 30, identified with identical referencecharacters carrying a prime symbol. Some of those structural elementsand features are identified in the FIGS., but for clarity of theillustrations, most are left out, since one having ordinary skill in theart would reasonably appreciate and understand the structure of thesecond jaw 31 from the description of the first jaw 30. FIG. 3 does atleast illustrate the outer surface 35′, the inner surface 36′, the lowerinner surface 47′, the upper rib 42′, and the lower rib 46′.

The first and second jaws 30 and 31 are formed monolithically to thespine 20 from a resilient material. As such, the first and second jaws30 and 31 are resiliently biased toward each other so that the upperribs 42 and 42′ are biased toward each other and the lower ribs 43 and43′ are biased toward each other. By “resiliently biased,” it is meantthat when an object is inserted or placed between the first and secondjaws 30 and 31 so as to push them apart from each other in to anexpanded position, the resiliency of the material construction of thefirst and second jaws 30 and 31 produces a biasing force in oppositionto the direction of the push, tending to maintain the original position.In other words, if an object is placed between the first and second jaws30 and 31 to move them apart, the first and second jaws 30 and 31 act tosqueeze back to their original position. FIG. 3 illustrates thisoriginal position, identified as a neutral position. Further, theconstruction of the first and second jaws 30 and 31 increases thisresiliency: the thickness of the first jaw 30 between the spine 20 andthe upper rib 42 is constant, and the thickness of the first jaw 30 fromthe upper rib 42 to the lower rib 43 decreases constantly and slightly.

In the neutral position, there is no biasing force on the first andsecond jaws 30 and 31, and the upper ribs 42 and 42′ are separated by agap 60. The gap 60 is a rectangular prismatic void extending between theupper ribs 42 and 42′ entirely along the length of the clasp 10. Theinward faces 52 and 52′ bound the gap 60 on opposed sides of the gap 60,and the inward faces 52 and 52′ are parallel to each other and the lowerinner surfaces 47 and 47′, and are perpendicular to the lower faces 40and 40′. As will be explained in greater detail below, when the bag 11is applied to the clasp 10, the bag 11 causes the first and second jaws30 and 31 to separate slightly along the arrowed lines B in FIG. 3, theupper ribs 42 and 42′ to separate slightly, and the inward faces 52 and52′ assume a slightly transverse, or convergent, orientation withrespect to each other, rather than a parallel orientation. This slightseparation causes the lower edges 51 and 51′ to be slightly fartherapart from each other than the upper edges 54 and 54′ are from eachother. Nonetheless, the resiliency of the first and second jaws 30 and31 to the spine 20 biases the jaws 30 and 31 toward maintaining theparallel nature of the lower inner surfaces 47 and 47′.

In the neutral position, the lower ribs 43 and 43′ are also separated bya gap 61. The gap 61 is a trapezoidal prismatic void extending betweenthe lower ribs 43 and 43′ entirely along the length of the clasp 10. Theconvergent faces 44 and 44′ bound the gap 61 on opposed sides thereof.The convergent faces 44 and 44′ are slightly transverse; they convergetoward each other in a direction upwardly toward the spine 20. When thebag 11 is applied to the clasp 10, the bag 11 places the clasp 10 in theexpanded position and causes the lower ribs 43 and 43′ to separateslightly, and the inward convergent faces 44 and 44′ to become moretransverse, or more convergent. That is, the angle formed between theconvergent faces 44 and 44′ increases slightly.

Defined between the upper ribs 42 and 42′ and the lower ribs 43 and 43′,and between the lower inner surfaces 47 and 47′, is a receiving space orhold 62. The hold 62 is an elongate, generally rectangular, prismaticvoid or space extending continuously along the first and second jaws 30and 31 and entirely along the length of the clasp 10, from end 13 to end14. The hold 62 is open at the open ends 13 and 14, is closed at thelower inner surfaces 47 and 47′, is open between the upper ribs 42 and42′ at the gap 60, and is open between the lower ribs 43 and 43′ at thegap 61. Thus, entrance to the hold 62 is provided only at the open ends13 and 14 or at either of the gaps 60 and 61. Each of the upper ribs 42and 42′ projects into the hold 62 laterally a distance approximatelyequal to a quarter of the depth of the hold (the depth being measuredbetween the inner surfaces 36 and 36′). As such, the gap 60 has a depthequal to approximately half the depth of the hold 62. Each of the lowerribs 43 and 43′ projects into the hold 62 laterally a distanceapproximately equal to one-third of the depth of the hold 62, and assuch, the gap 61 has a depth equal to approximately one-third the depthof the hold 62. As seen in FIG. 3, the hold 62 has a cross-sectionalshape which is roughly square, and for which the depth of the hold 62 isapproximately equal to the height of the hold 62 (the height beingmeasured between the lower face 50 of the upper rib 42 and the upperface 45 of the lower rib 43 proximate to the lower inner surface 47).The hold 62 is fairly small, but is sized to closely receive the zipperseal portion of the bag 11, as will be explained.

In the neutral position of the clasp 10, the lower inner surfaces 47 and47′ of the lower ribs 43 and 43′ are parallel to each other andperpendicular to the spine 20 and the lower surfaces 40 and 40′. Theydefine parallel outer sides of the void 62. And, in the neutralposition, the inner surfaces and 36′ above the upper ribs 42 and 42′ areconvergent toward the distal ends 33 and 33′ of the first and secondjaws 30 and 31. The upper surface 36 on the first jaw 30 is thustransverse with respect to the lower upper surface 47, and similarly,the upper surface 36′ of the second jaw 31 is transverse with respect tothe lower upper surface 47′. This provides unique benefits as explainedbelow.

In operation, the clasp 10 confirms closure of the bag 11, provides asecondary, redundant seal to the bag 11, creates a rigid weight-bearinghandle across the full length of the bag 11, and can optionally form atertiary seal in the bag 11.

To apply the bag 11 to the clasp 10, the bag 11 is taken up by hand.Referring briefly back to FIG. 1, the bag 11 is conventionally formed ofa thin and flexible sidewall including a lower pouch 70, a zipper seal71, and free ends 72 above the zipper zeal 71. Just below the zipperseal 71, the sidewall of the bag 11—like most conventional zip-topbags—is slightly thicker. This thicker sidewall 73 provides strength andsupport between the pouch 70 and the zipper seal 71, to prevent the bag11 from ripping or tearing just below the zipper seal 71, and to allowthe zipper seal 71 to be formed into durable portion of the bag 11.

The bag 11 is taken up by hand by grasping the free ends 72 andthreading them into one of the open ends 13 and 14; either will do asthe clasp 10 is symmetric. As such, discussion herein will refer toapplication through the open end 13, with the understanding thatapplication may identically occur through the open end 14. The free ends72 of the bag 11 are taken up proximate the sides of the bag 11 andpassed into the open end 13. The bag 11 is preferably threaded so thatthe zipper seal 71 enters through the open end 13 at the hold 62 and sothat the zipper seal 71 is immediately placed within the hold 62, asshown in FIG. 4. The hold 62 is just slightly smaller than the zipperseal 71, and so the jaws 30 and 31 are pushed slightly apart from eachother, into the expanded position, which FIG. 4 illustrates. When thisoccurs, the resilient material characteristic of the jaws 30 and 31exerts the resilient bias force on the zipper seal 71 to return the jaws30 and 31 to the neutral position and maintain them there. This acts tosqueeze the zipper seal 71 within the hold 62. As such, the userthreading the bag 11 into the clasp 10 feels initial resistance. Bycontinuing to pull the bag 11 along the long axis A of the clasp 10,through the clasp 10, the user introduces more of the zipper seal 71within the hold 62. The user continues to pull the bag 11 until thesides of the bag 11 are coextensive with the ends 13 and 14 of the clasp10. In this manner, the bag 11 is applied to the clasp 10.

If the zipper seal 71 has been initially properly registered by theuser, that is, if the opposed mating portions of the zipper seal 71 havebeen properly registered with each other, then application of the bag 11to the clasp 10 via the process described above will cause the opposedmating portions of the zipper seal 71 to engage with each other andclose the zipper seal 71. In other words, if the zipper seal 71 isregistered but open when the user begins to apply the bag 11 to theclasp 10, the process of application described above will properly closethe zipper seal 71. This is because the zipper seal 71 is closelyreceived in the hold 62 and prevented from lateral and vertical movementby the structure of the clasp 10. The opposed lower inner surfaces 47and 47′ laterally bound the zipper seal 71 and prevent lateral outwardmovement of the zipper seal 71 and thus lateral dis-engagement of thezipper seal 71. Further, the upper ribs 42 and 42′ above the zipper seal71 vertically bound the zipper seal 71 and prevent upward movement ofthe zipper seal 71. The lower ribs 43 and 43′ below the zipper seal 71vertically bound the zipper seal 71 and prevent downward movement of thezipper seal 71. Therefore, the upper and lower ribs 42, 42′, 43, and 43′cooperate to prevent vertical movement of the zipper seal 71 out of thehold 62. The upper and lower ribs 42, 42′, 43, and 43′ also prevent theopposed mating portions of the zipper seal 71 from becomingde-registered; once registered, the zipper seal 71 will remainregistered and thus the action of applying remaining portions of thezipper seal 71 through the hold 62 will cause the zipper seal 71 tocontinue to be registered and thus smoothly engage. Inside the hold 62,there is no manner in which the zipper seal 71 can open. The zipper seal71, constrained by the hold 62, forms a fluid impervious seal.

Therefore, applying the bag 11 into the clasp 10 confirms properregistration and closure of the zipper seal 71 as that zipper seal 71 isintended to be registered and closed. However, the clasp 11 alsoprovides a secondary seal to the bag 11. When the bag 11 is appliedthrough the clasp 10 according to the process described above, thethicker sidewall 73 just below the zipper seal 71 is pinched between thelower ribs 43 and 43. The lower ribs 43 and 43′ bias the two plies ofthe thicker sidewall 73 against each other, and, at the acute corners 46and 46′, are pressed in direct contact with each other to form asecondary seal 74. The acute corners 46 and 46′ extend along the entirelength of the clasp 10, and so the secondary seal 74 in the bag 10 alsoextends along the full length of the clasp 10.

The acute corners 46 and 46′ not only form the secondary seal 74, butthey convert the clasp 10 from a mere clasp 10 to a handle. Because theacute corners 46 and 46′ are acute and are oriented inwardly andupwardly into the hold 62, they pinch into the thicker sidewall 73. Whenthe pouch 70 is filled with an object or objects and has some weight,the pouch 70 hangs from the clasp 10. This causes the acute corners 46and 46′ to bite inwardly and upwardly into the thicker sidewall 73 justunder the zipper seal 71. The zipper seal 71 cannot be pulled throughthe gap 61 because the thicker sidewall 73 is caught by the acutecorners 46 and 46′. When this occurs, the clasp 10 supports the weightof the object or objects in the pouch 70; such weight is distributedacross the entire clasp 10 and across the entire zipper seal 71, therebyspreading the weight away from one or two locations and mitigating thelikelihood that the zipper seal 71 will tear open under the weight ofthe bag 11. The clasp 10 is rigid, and so it maintains its rigid lengthalong the axis A, thereby providing the bag 11 with defined structure atits top. The bag 11 can be carried much more easily with the clasp 10than with some other method, such as squeezing, bundling, or rolling thetop of the bag 11. This is especially true given that, when the zipperseals of many zip-top bags are bent or bundled in a tight radius, theymay open; bunching up the top of a zip-top bag can open the bag.

A tertiary seal 75 may also be formed by arranging the bag 11 within theclasp 80 in the fashion shown in FIG. 7. This is especially useful ifthe bag 11 has long free ends 72. The bag 11 is applied to the clasp 10with free ends 72 bent or folded over, and the folded portion is placedinto the interior 25 when the zipper seal 71 is slid in between thefirst and second jaws 30 and 31. In this arrangement, a primary seal isformed by the zipper seal 71, reinforced between the first and secondjaws 30 and 31, the secondary seal 74 is formed at the thicker sidewall73 of the bag 11 just below the zipper seal 71, and a tertiary seal 75is formed at the spine 20 by the folded free ends 72 of the bag 11. Whenthe free ends 72 are folded or creased over, the plies of the bag 11 arepressed into each other. Further, captured within the interior 25 inthis manner, the free ends 25 are prevented from moving, yet theresiliency of the bag 11 tends to urge the free ends 72 outward andupward into their original position. As such, the free ends 72 arebiased against the spine 20 and the plies are pressed and held together,thus forming the tertiary seal 75.

To open the bag 11, the clasp 10 can be easily slid off the top of thebag 11. Once removed, the bag 11 operates as a conventional zip-top bag:it may be opened and closed many times. If the user wishes to againclose the bag in a fluid impervious manner, he or she merely re-appliesthe clasp 10 as described above.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a clasp 80. Theclasp 80 is similar, and indeed, identical, in many ways to the clasp10. As such, many of the reference characters used to identify thestructural elements and features of the clasp 10 will be used herein toidentify and describe the clasp 80. Detailed description will not bemade of those identical structural elements and features, the foregoingdescription of clasp 10 providing sufficient and enabling disclosure ofthem. Further, not all structural elements and features of the clasp 80will be identified in FIGS. 5 and 6, for clarity of the illustrationsand of the description.

The clasp 80 includes, at least, open ends 13 and 14, a top 15 andopposed bottom 16, spine 20, side edges 21 and 22, outer and innersurfaces 23 and 24, interior 25, and first and second jaws 30 and 31.The first jaw 30 includes, at least, proximal and distal ends 32 and 33,outer and inner faces 35 and 36, lower face 40, lower inside edge 41,lower rib 43, convergent face 44, upper face 45, acute corner 46, andlower inner surface 47. The second jaw 31 includes the same structuralelements and features of the first jaw 30. Defined between the lowerribs 43 and 43′ is the same gap 61.

The clasp 80 includes upper ribs 81 and 81′ which are different from theupper ribs 42 and 42′. The upper ribs 81 and 81′ are identical butoppositely formed on the first and second jaws 30 and 31, respectively.As such, description of the upper rib 80 will be provided herein withthe understanding that such description applies equally to the upper rib81′. For consistency, and because the upper rib 81′ has structuralelements and features identical to the upper rib 81, the referencecharacters used to identify those structural elements and features willalso be used for those of the upper rib 81′, but will be marked with aprime (“′”) symbol to distinguish them from those of the upper rib 81.The upper rib 81 projects laterally inward and slightly downward intothe interior 25 of the clasp 80 from the first jaw 30 between the innersurface 36 and the lower inner surface 47. The upper rib 81 isparallelogram prismatic, extending entirely from the end 13 to the end14 along the length of the clasp 10 and the first jaw 30.

The upper rib 81 includes a lower face 82 which defines, together withthe lower inner surface 47, an acute inside corner. The lower face 82 istransverse to the lower face 40 of the lower rib 43 and is directed awayfrom the spine 20. An inner or inward face 83 turns upwardly from thelower face 82, is directed inwardly, and is parallel to the lower innersurface 47. The lower and inner faces 82 and 83 meet at and define alower edge 84 which runs the entire length of the upper rib 81 betweenthe ends 13 and 14. Opposite the lower face 82 is the upper face 85,directed toward the spine 20; the upper face 85 forms an obtuse cornerwith the inward face 83 at an upper edge 86 and extends from that upperedge 86 to the inner surface 36 of the first jaw 30. The lower and upperfaces 82 and 85 are parallel to each other and transverse to all othersurfaces on the clasp 80.

Like the clasp 10, in the clasp 80, the first and second jaws 30 and 31are formed monolithically to the spine 20 from a resilient material andare resiliently biased toward each other so that the upper ribs 81 and81′ are biased toward each other and the lower ribs 43 and 43′ arebiased toward each other. FIG. 5 illustrates this original position,identified as a neutral position. The upper ribs 81 ad 81′ are orientedtoward each other and away from the spine 20, such that the lower faces82 and 82′ converge toward each other and away from the spine 20, andthe upper faces 85 and 85′ similarly converge toward each other and awayfrom the spine 20.

In the neutral position, there is no biasing force on the first andsecond jaws 30 and 31, and the upper ribs 81 and 81′ are separated by agap 91. The gap 91 is a rectangular prismatic void extending between theupper ribs 81 and 81′ entirely along the length of the clasp 10. Theinward faces 83 and 83′ bound the gap 91 on opposed sides of the gap 91,and the inward faces 83 and 83′ are parallel to each other and the lowerinner surfaces 47 and 47′, and are perpendicular to the lower faces 40and 40′. When the bag 11 is applied to the clasp 10, the bag 11 causesthe first and second jaws 30 and 31 to separate slightly, the upper ribs81 and 81′ to separate slightly, and the inward faces 83 and 83′ assumea slightly transverse, or convergent, orientation with respect to eachother, rather than a parallel orientation. This slight separation causesthe lower edges 84 and 84′ to be slightly farther apart from each otherthan the upper edges 86 and 86′ are from each other. Nonetheless, theresiliency of the first and second jaws 30 and 31 to the spine 20 biasesthe jaws 30 and 31 toward maintaining the parallel nature of the lowerinner surfaces 47 and 47′.

The upper and lower ribs 81 and 43 are directed toward each other; theupper rib 81 is oriented inward and downward, and the lower rib 43 isoriented inward and upward, defining a hold 90 therebetween and betweenthe lower inner surfaces 47 and 47′. The hold 90 is an elongateprismatic void or receiving space extending continuously along the firstand second jaws 30 and 31 and entirely along the length of the clasp 10,from end 13 to end 14. The hold 90 is open at the open ends 13 and 14,is closed at the lower inner surfaces 47 and 47′, is open between theupper ribs 81 and 81′ at the gap 91, and is open between the lower ribs43 and 43′ at the gap 61. Thus, entrance to the hold 90 is provided onlyat the open ends 13 and 14 or at either of the gaps 91 and 61.

Each of the upper ribs 81 and 81′ projects inwardly and downwardly intothe hold 90, but projects laterally into the hold 90 a lateral distanceapproximately equal to a quarter of the depth of the hold 90 (the depthbeing measured between the inner surfaces 36 and 36′). As such, the gap91 has a depth equal to approximately half the depth of the hold 90. Asseen in FIG. 5, the hold 90 has a cross-sectional shape which is roughlyX-shaped, and for which the depth of the hold 90 is approximately equalto the height of the hold 90 (the height being measured between thelower face 82 of the upper rib 81 and the upper face 45 of the lower rib43 proximate to the lower inner surface 47). The hold 90 is fairlysmall, but is sized to closely receive the zipper seal portion of thebag 11, as will be explained.

In operation, like the clasp 10, the clasp 80 confirms closure of thebag 11, provides a secondary, redundant seal to the bag 11, creates arigid weight-bearing handle across the full length of the bag 11, andcan optionally form a tertiary seal in the bag 11. In fact, the clasp 80has all of the operational and functional characteristics of the clasp10 but includes a few additional ones.

The bag 11 may be applied to the clasp 80 in the same manner that thebag 11 is applied to the clasp 10, namely, through either of the openends 13 and 14 by introducing the zipper seal 71 into the hold 90.However, the bag 11 may be applied to the clasp 80 in an additionalmanner: first into the interior 25 above the upper ribs 81 and 81′ andthen into the hold 90. In this additional manner of application, the bag11 is taken up by hand by grasping the free ends 72 and threading theminto one of the open ends 13 and 14; again, discussion herein will referto application through the open end 13, with the understanding thatapplication may identically occur through the open end 14. The free ends72 of the bag 11 are taken up proximate the sides of the bag 11 andpassed into the open end 13. The bag 11 is preferably threaded so thatthe zipper seal 71 enters through the open end 13 above the upper ribs81 and 81′ hold 90. The interior 25 above the upper ribs 81 and 81′ isquite a bit bigger than the zipper seal 71, and so application of theentire bag 11 to the clasp 10 is easily accomplished by pulling the bag11 through the interior 25.

Once the full length of the bag 11 is within the clasp 10, the bottom ofthe bag 11 and the clasp 10 are grasped in opposing hands and pulledapart, in effect, pulling the bag 11 down in the clasp 10 from above theupper ribs 81 and 81′ into the hold 90. This causes the zipper seal 71to bear against the upper ribs 81 and 81′, eventually spreading themwidely enough that the zipper seal 71 slips into the hold 90. Oncedisposed within the hold 90, the zipper seal 71 is secured therein. Thezipper seal 71 is closely received in the hold 90 and prevented fromlateral and vertical movement by the structure of the clasp 80. Theopposed lower inner surfaces 47 and 47′ laterally bound the zipper seal71 and prevent lateral outward movement of the zipper seal 71 and thuslateral dis-engagement of the zipper seal 71. Further, the upper ribs 81and 81′ above the zipper seal 71 vertically bound the zipper seal 71 andprevent upward movement of the zipper seal 71. The lower ribs 43 and 43′below the zipper seal 71 vertically bound the zipper seal 71 and preventdownward movement of the zipper seal 71. Therefore, the upper and lowerribs 81, 81′, 43, and 43′ cooperate to prevent vertical movement of thezipper seal 71 out of the hold. Inside the hold 90, there is no mannerin which the zipper seal 71 can open. The zipper seal 71, constrained bythe hold 90, forms a fluid impervious seal. The secondary seal 74 isalso fluid impervious. In this way, fluid impervious seals are providedto a bag 11 that can be non-destructively and cyclically opened andclosed.

To open the bag 11, the clasp 80 can be easily slid off the top of thebag 11. Once removed, the bag 11 operates as a conventional zip-top bag:it may be opened and closed many times. If the user wishes to againclose the bag in a fluid impervious manner, he or she merely re-appliesthe clasp 80 as described above.

A preferred embodiment is fully and clearly described above so as toenable one having skill in the art to understand, make, and use thesame. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may bemade to the description above without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and that some embodiments include only those elements andfeatures described, or a subset thereof. To the extent that suchmodifications do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they areintended to be included within the scope thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A clasp comprising: an elongate spine;opposed jaws extending monolithically from the spine transverse to thespine; and the jaws each include inwardly-directed upper and lower ribs;wherein the jaws are resiliently biased toward each other so that thelower ribs of each jaw are biased toward each other and the upper ribsof each jaw are biased toward each other.
 2. The clasp of claim 1,wherein the lower ribs are located at distal ends of the jaws.
 3. Theclasp of claim 2, wherein the upper ribs are located inboard of thelower ribs.
 4. The clasp of claim 1, wherein each of the lower ribscomprises: a lower face directed away from the spine; an inner face; andan upper face directed toward the spine, wherein the inner and upperfaces of the lower ribs converge toward each other and back toward thespine.
 5. The clasp of claim 1, wherein each of the upper ribscomprises: a lower face directed away from the spine; an inward face;and an upper face directed away the spine; wherein the lower faces ofthe upper ribs converge toward each other and away from the spine, andthe upper faces of the upper ribs converge toward each other and awayfrom the spine.
 6. The clasp of claim 5, wherein the upper and lowerfaces of each of the upper ribs are parallel.
 7. A clasp comprising: anelongate spine; opposed jaws extending monolithically from the spinetransverse to the spine, each including an inner surface andinwardly-directed upper and lower ribs spaced apart from each other onthe inner surface by a receiving space; and the receiving space of thejaws defines a hold between the jaws, the hold characterized as anelongate rectangular prismatic void extending continuously along thejaws; wherein the jaws are resiliently biased toward each other so thatthe lower ribs of each jaw are biased toward each other and the upperribs of each jaw are biased toward each other.
 8. The clasp of claim 7,wherein the inner surfaces of the jaws between the upper and lower ribsare parallel, and between the upper ribs and spine are convergent towardthe upper ribs.
 9. The clasp of claim 7, wherein the lower ribs arelocated at distal ends of the jaws.
 10. The clasp of claim 9, whereinthe upper ribs are located inboard of the lower ribs.
 11. The clasp ofclaim 7, wherein each of the lower ribs comprises an upper face which isdirected toward the spine and also aligned into the hold.
 12. The claspof claim 11, wherein each of the lower ribs includes an inner face, andthe inner faces of the lower ribs of the jaws converge toward each otherin a direction toward the spine.
 13. The clasp of claim 12, wherein theupper and lower faces of each of the upper ribs are parallel.
 14. Aclasp comprising: an elongate spine; opposed jaws extendingmonolithically from the spine transverse to the spine, each including aninner surface and inwardly-directed upper and lower ribs spaced apartfrom each other on the inner surface by a receiving space; and thereceiving space of the jaws defines a hold between the jaws, the holdcharacterized as an elongate rectangular prismatic void extendingcontinuously along the jaws; wherein the jaws are resiliently biasedtoward each other so that the lower ribs of each jaw are biased towardeach other and the upper ribs of each jaw are biased toward each otherto maintain a volume of the hold and to maintain the inner surfaces ofthe jaws between the upper and lower ribs in a parallel arrangement. 15.The clasp of claim 14, wherein the inner surfaces of the jaws betweenthe upper ribs and spine are convergent toward the lower ribs.
 16. Theclasp of claim 14, wherein the lower ribs are located at distal ends ofthe jaws.
 17. The clasp of claim 16, wherein the upper ribs are locatedinboard of the lower ribs.
 18. The clasp of claim 14, wherein each ofthe lower ribs comprises an upper face which is directed toward thespine and also aligned into the hold.
 19. The clasp of claim 18, whereineach of the lower ribs includes an inner face, and the inner faces ofthe lower ribs of the jaws converge toward each other in a directiontoward the spine, defining an acute angle between the inner face andupper face of each of the lower ribs.
 20. The clasp of claim 19, whereinthe upper and lower faces of each of the upper ribs are parallel.